Adjustable meter with tamper detection

Abstract

A meter assembly includes: a meter housing including a top portion, the top portion including a mounting boss, the mounting boss including an engagement hook and protruding axially from a top surface of the top portion of the first housing; a register housing connected to the top portion of the first housing and configured to rotate with respect to the first housing about a rotation axis; and a retaining fastener connecting the second housing to the first housing, the retaining fastener including a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the mounting boss and a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the second housing.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A meter assembly comprising:
 a meter housing comprising a top portion and defining a rotation axis, the top portion comprising a mounting boss, the mounting boss comprising an engagement hook and protruding axially from a top surface of the top portion of the first housing; 
 a register housing connected to the top portion of the meter housing, a central axis of the register housing aligned with the rotation axis, the register housing configured to rotate with respect to the meter housing about the rotation axis, the register housing positioned at least partially above the top portion of the meter housing along the rotation axis when the register housing is assembled to the meter housing; and 
 a retaining fastener connecting the register housing to the meter housing, the retaining fastener comprising a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the mounting boss and a one of a hook and a flange configured to engage the register housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement hook of the mounting boss protrudes radially outward from the rotation axis. 
     
     
       3. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining fastener comprises a plurality of engagement hooks, the plurality of engagement hooks arranged in a circular configuration extending radially outward from the rotation axis along an outer periphery of the retaining fastener. 
     
     
       4. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement hooks of the retaining fastener comprises a first hook ledge facing a second hook ledge of the register housing. 
     
     
       5. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement hooks of the retaining fastener comprises an inclined wall facing radially outward from the rotation axis. 
     
     
       6. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining fastener includes a flange configured to engage the mounting boss of the meter housing and a plurality of hooks configured to engage the register housing. 
     
     
       7. The meter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the flange is positioned between the engagement hook of the mounting boss of the meter housing and the top portion of the meter housing. 
     
     
       8. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining fastener further comprises a tab configured to limit rotation of the register housing with respect to the meter housing about the rotation axis. 
     
     
       9. The meter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the register housing comprises an engagement hook, the engagement hook comprising an inclined wall facing radially inward with respect to the rotation axis, the engagement hook configured to engage the retaining fastener. 
     
     
       10. A meter assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a main axis, the housing comprising a socket defining a socket axis angled with respect to the main axis; 
 a linkage arm comprising a register end positioned at least partly within the socket; and 
 a retaining fastener connecting the register end of the linkage arm to the housing, the linkage arm configured to rotate relative to the housing about the socket axis while fixed in an axial direction defined by the socket axis. 
 
     
     
       11. The meter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining fastener is a retaining pin, the retaining pin including at least one engagement hook. 
     
     
       12. The meter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage arm includes an outer wall defining an elongated slot sized to accept the retaining pin, the retaining pin slidable within the elongated slot to allow the linkage arm to rotate relative to the housing. 
     
     
       13. The meter assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a wireless communication device connected to the linkage arm. 
     
     
       14. The meter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining fastener is configured to visibly break when the linkage arm and the housing are separated. 
     
     
       15. A method of using a meter assembly, the method comprising:
 rotating a register housing of the meter assembly relative to a meter housing of the meter assembly about a rotation axis of the register housing to a desired rotation angle, the register housing secured to the meter housing with a first retaining fastener; and 
 rotating a linkage arm to a desired rotation angle about a linkage arm axis, the linkage arm connected to the register housing with a second retaining fastener, the linkage arm connecting a communication device to the register housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the linkage arm axis is angled with respect to the rotation axis. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the linkage arm is configured to rotate an angular displacement about the linkage arm axis from a center position in a positive or a negative direction. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the center position is aligned along a direction that is parallel to the rotation axis of the register housing. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the linkage arm is configured to rotate up to an angular displacement of 70 degrees about the linkage arm axis from a center position in a positive or a negative direction. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein a register end of the linkage arm defines a bore extending through a thickness of the linkage arm, the bore being annular in orientation and sized to receive the second retaining fastener, the second retaining fastener being a retaining pin, and wherein rotating the linkage arm to a desired rotation angle about the linkage arm axis comprises rotating the bore with respect to the retaining pin so that the retaining pin slides within the bore.